Gardner-Webb's Hubbard National Punt Returner of the Week
October 29, 2012 | Football
Hubbard (Tampa, Fla. / Robinson HS) continued to set the Runnin' Bulldogs up with outstanding field position, averaging 25.7 yards on three returns in Saturday's 38-7 win over VMI. The 5-foot-8, 170-pound speedster had two long returns of 30 and 47 yards - with his 30-yarder setting up a Gardner-Webb touchdown in the third quarter.
The slippery sophomore added a 35-yard kickoff return to set up another score.
Hubbard's exploits in the return game have allowed Gardner-Webb to lead the nation in team punt return average (25.6 yards per return) through eight games. Hubbard would pace the nation in the individual statistics as well, but falls short of the minimum statistical requirement with only five returns under his belt.
Of those five punt returns, three have gone for 30 yards or longer.
Also an outstanding kickoff return man, Hubbard leads the Big South and ranks No. 36 nationally with an average of 24.1 yards per return. He has eight kickoff returns longer than 30 yards this season and three longer than 60 yards.
Gardner-Webb remains home in Spangler Stadium this week, hosting Coastal Carolina Saturday afternoon at 1:30 pm in the ESPN3 Big South Game of the Week.
